Investors eye coal potential in Manokwari

Some local investors have expressed interest to develop coal resources in Manokwari regency, Irian Jaya.

Manokwari regent Dominggus Mandacan told Antara news agency Thursday that the investors voiced the interest during a recent exhibition in Jakarta, where many regional administrations, including Manokwari, displayed business opportunities in their respective areas. He said the investors had promised to the regency in the near future to study the regency's coal resources.

During the exhibition, Manokwari also demonstrated that it had a lot of investment opportunities in forestry, natural gas, oil and plantation sectors.

Aside from coal, Manokwari had also granite resources in Mawi, Dembek and Momi villages of Ransiki district, the regent said.

He claimed that the granite resources were the best in South East Asia in terms of economic value.

Multinational companies, led by American firm ARCO, had also found a huge natural gas resources in the Muturi, Babo and Berau areas, the regent added. ARCO has been merged with BP-Amoco and the new firm is now called BP or Beyond Petroleum.

Dominggus also said the regency was also home to 80 oil wells, located in Wasian, Mogoi and Timbuni villages, abandoned by Dutch oil firm NNGPM. Oil resources in the area are being exploited by state oil and gas company Pertamina's contractors. (*)